‘Our family has been torn apart,’ says mother of young person at the center of Huw Edwards scandal after BBC apology

THE family at the center of the Huw Edwards scandal have hit out after waiting nine months for an apology from the BBC, saying it had “torn them apart”.

It came after the company finally admitted a complaint their star news anchor £35,000 paid to a young person who sent him explicit images was not dealt with quickly enough.

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The BBC announced that it had apologized to the family for its failure to address their complaint, which was originally filed last May.

However, the youngster’s mother said: “We suffered immense pain and it lasted almost a year, leaving me broken.

“If the BBC had handled the complaint properly we wouldn’t have had to go through this hell. We were torn apart as a family.”

A damning 23-page independent report found the original complaint was not registered – and was only ‘escalated’ to senior management when The Sun contacted it.

The family turned to us after accusing the BBC of not taking concerns about one of its biggest stars seriously.

The mother said she now wants to know whether the suspended News At Ten presenter, 62, has been properly investigated.

‘GOING THROUGH HELL

She told The Sun: “It’s a relief that this independent report supports what we’ve been saying all along: the BBC simply hasn’t taken this seriously. This underlines how important it is that we get answers, for the benefit of everyone.

“It is in black and white: the BBC did not even register the complaint and did not follow up on it. This is a devastating confession. We can only hope that this will speed up the process towards the right conclusions we need. We just want to know that what we have told the BBC has been properly investigated, whatever the cost.”

Edwards, whose wife has revealed he suffers from mental health problems, is facing a separate internal investigation into whether he brought the organization into disrepute.

The youngster’s stepfather, who made the original complaint, said: ‘It’s only right that they admitted their procedures were wrong. Their apology also proves that I was right to be frustrated.”

The report from accounting firm Deloitte states that safeguards must be ‘improved’ so that complaints can be ‘escalated and managed’ more effectively.

BBC Group Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavaziva said: “The report identifies specific process deficiencies in the presenter’s case.

“The initial complaint in this case was not escalated to senior management quickly enough and we have apologized to the complainant for this.”

She added: “We are implementing an action plan with a number of improvements already in place.”

Veteran broadcaster Adam Boulton said last night: “The apology vindicates The Sun. The Sun has not identified the people involved, even though everyone wishes them well.”

Our story last July 7 came after the complaint about Edwards was made at a BBC building on May 18 last year.

The family were referred to the BBC’s Audience Services Team, who referred the case to the Corporate Investigations team.

The apology vindicates The Sun

Veteran broadcaster Adam Boulton

However, yesterday’s report details that it was not reported to senior managers. It also says there was “insufficient” documentation of attempts to contact the family.

It reveals: “The case was not recorded in the existing case management system, meaning there was no opportunity for wider visibility of the case within the BBC.”

Former BBC news editor Craig Oliver said: “Senior managers were left asking: ‘How can a complaint of such severity be made against Huw Edwards, one of our biggest names, and no red flag has been raised?’ The company knows it has to do things much faster.”

The report contained recommendations for future complaints, such as “better use of technology”.

Our surprise story didn’t mention Edwards, who was taken off the air and suspended three days later.

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A BBC investigation was launched into their presenter, who announced the death of Queen Elizabeth and led the coverage of the king’s coronation.

Director General Tim Davis I ordered one too judgement to “assess how some complaints raise red flags for the organization.”

Amid the fallout, Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind named the father-of-five as the figure involved – as the BBC revealed new claims.

She also revealed that he was being treated in hospital mental health issues.

COMPLAINT CONCERNS

The report also highlighted how some employees admitted they would be nervous about making a complaint to the BBC – especially about a high-profile figure.

It said: “These employees said they have less confidence in how robustly the complaint will be handled if it is a complaint relating to another staff member or talent.”

The young person involved is said to have insisted that nothing “illegal” or “inappropriate” had happened to the presenter.

In a letter recently sent to MPs summerVictoria Newton, editor of The Sun, said: “The parents had sought a solution by complaining to the BBC.

“No action had been taken on their complaint and they turned to The Sun.”

We have provided texts, social media posts and photographs supporting our story to the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team.

Edwards has been suspended on full pay of £435,000 a year since the investigation began.

Asked about the separate investigation, the BBC said yesterday it would not discuss “matters relating to this case”.

Edwards has not commented.